Newsletter Two: My first school year at Interlochen
We made it to the end of my first school year at Interlochen Arts Academy!
It was a tremendous first year with exciting and remarkable experiences!
This is my second newsletter. My newsletters are intended to keep in touch with people who support my journey, share my thoughts, and create a platform to encourage other girls my age to be strong and never give up. In this letter, I will write about my musical and academic achievements, as well as my daily life since moving to the United States.
Interlochen Arts Academy has always been an incredible place that I knew would help me to develop as a strong and well-rounded musician – but also a place where I would learn to grow as a strong woman. The experiences that I had at Interlochen in the last 9 months, I would have never had the opportunity to learn in Afghanistan. It truly makes a difference to go to school without fear of war and to study in a safe and peaceful environment.
This year had its ups and downs. Coming to the United States after being in Afghanistan when it collapsed was a difficult transition, but I persisted in remaining strong, settling into my new school, and writing the next chapter of my life. I worked hard and received straight A’s in all of my subjects, honor roll in both semesters, as well as an academic award at the end of the year as a result.
This year, I enjoyed being a part of a large orchestra and performing pieces such as Mussorgsky's "Pictures at an Exhibition" and Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 5. For the first time, I was blown away by the power of brass instruments and how they fill out orchestras. We also performed different types of music, such as the musical Oklahoma! and a jazz-inspired Violin Concerto by Billy Childs. It was thrilling to be introduced to a new genre of music with difficult and fast notes. It was fascinating to discover how your fingers can play quickly but precisely if you practice slowly.
Aside from the orchestra, I played with the choir, string quartet, and piano trio (piano, violin, and cello). Playing solo is both exciting and stressful, but these opportunities will allow you to grow and learn. I was thrilled to perform at the festival at the end of the school year with my trio and as the soloist with the choir. Being a part of the orchestra, playing in chamber groups, and taking masterclasses all helped me develop my musical skills while also providing me with the opportunity to meet new people and make new friends.
English was my favorite academic subject this semester. We read an interesting book called “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson. Reading this book allowed our class to discuss about the American social justice system and history. It also gave me the opportunity to reflect on Afghanistan's social justice system. I had a great time working with all of my teachers and classmates.
My days at Interlochen are both enjoyable and productive. There are always great activities to participate in on-campus, and one of my favorites this year was the international food fair. I cooked Afghan food and my other international friends cooked their traditional dishes. we had a great time sharing stories about our culture with Interlochen's community. This semester, I was also required to do two hours of community service at the cafeteria every week, which I enjoyed because it is important to learn the value of work around you and how each person makes a difference in our lives. That is why I volunteered to assist with the greenhouse service.
In addition to my activities on campus, such as being a member of the Asian affinity group, I am pleased to announce that I recently participated in the VII Foundation's exhibition "Imagine: Reflections on Peace" at the United States Institute of Peace (USIP) in Washington, D.C.
I'm excited to announce that I'll be attending Rocky Ridge Summer Camp in Colorado this summer. Three things I am looking forward to are building friendships with musicians, experiencing being in a summer camp, and spending a month in Colorado's beautiful mountains, which I hope will remind me of home.
I'm looking forward to my next school year at Interlochen Arts Academy. I'm thrilled to have been chosen as a Global & Cultural Perspective Officer for the SBR, student representative board, for the 2022-2023 school year. I am extremely grateful for the opportunity to attend school.
I am preparing to begin fundraising for my tuition and other school-related expenses for the next two years. I've received a generous scholarship for this year, but I need your help and support to secure my place at Interlochen Arts Academy for the 2022-2024 academic years.
There are a few ways you can donate:
I have a U.S. bank account that is set up for direct deposit
You can donate via my new GoFundMe
The Vll Foundation, a nonprofit organization, has generously offered to receive donations on my behalf for those looking to make a tax-exempt donation.
I will share my fundraising outreach as much as I can and I would appreciate it if you could also share it with your friends and community. Thank you for making so much of this possible through your continued help and support.
Best wishes, Meena
